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North Park University Athletics

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20
Winner North Park NPU 12-6
6
Dominican (Ill.) DU 6-8
Winner
North Park NPU
12-6
20
Final
6
Dominican (Ill.) DU
6-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Park NPU 7 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 9 20 16 1
Dominican (Ill.) DU 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 8 3

W: Schmierer, Jason (2-2) L: Grant Morris (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Tyler Woolbright

North Park stacks a 20-piece against Stars in dominant win at Dominican

Perona sets single-game steals record and Greenwood collects four hits in cruising non-conference win

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. --North Park University stacked up 20 runs on 16 hits in a dominant 20-6 win over Dominican University on Monday afternoon at Wintrust Field. The Vikings' 20 runs are the most North Park has tallied since a 23-6 win over Carroll on April 27, 2024. 13 different Vikings scored a run and 23 players contributed to the non-conference win, as North Park has now won 10 of its past 11 games.

North Park took immediate control with a seven-run first inning, capitalizing on early control issues and a critical error. Senior center fielder Joe Perona was hit by a pitch to open the game, stole second, one of five successful steals on the evening, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on sophomore first baseman John Greenwood's RBI single to left. After a flyout, sophomore right fielder Vinnie Marvucic delivered a two-run single to right, and later stole second. Singles by sophomore shortstop Kupono Akaka and a sacrifice fly from senior left fielder Fabian Cruz extended the lead further. A two-out error at first base allowed three more unearned runs to score, giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead before Dominican came to the plate.

Dominican responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning when Austin Long walked, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a double by Nicolas Krecu. The Stars added more in the third inning when a walk, a single, and an error set up a three-run frame. Marco Stawski's two-run double to right pulled Dominican within 9-4, but NPU kept adding on.

In the third for the Vikings, Cruz singled and stole second, followed by a hit-by-pitch for Perona. Both runners executed a double steal, and senior second baseman Rylan Kawakami doubled to right to drive in two. Greenwood then added another single to right and the Vikings tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including another RBI hit from Greenwood.

North Park put the game away with a decisive nine-run trip in the ninth inning. Greenwood drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and the Vikings kept the pressure on when Perona doubled in two, Peyton Robinson added a two-run single in his first collegiate knock, and Akaka contributed a two-run single up the middle. Five hits, (including the first for freshman Reyn Ikenaga),multiple walks, and two Dominican errors helped fuel the inning. Dominican answered with two runs in the bottom of the ninth but could not close the gap.

Pitching support for North Park came from junior left-hander Jason Schmierer, who struck out seven over five innings. Senior lefty Garon Maxon followed with three scoreless frames and four strikeouts while freshman righty Matthew Mendez finished the final inning.

Perona Sets NPU Single-Game Record

North Park swiped a season-high eight bags in the road win, led by five from Perona. Those five successful steals sets a new single-game record for the Vikings, as Perona's four successful swipes against Beloit in 2024 was the previous number to beat.

Top Performers

North Park

Dominican

  • Zach Helein: 2-for-4, one run
  • Nicolas Krecu: RBI double
  • Marco Stawski: two-run double

What's Next?

North Park (12-6, 3-0 CCIW) stays out of conference action and returns home tomorrow, March 24, for a single game against UW-Oshkosh (4-6). First pitch at Holmgren is set for 3:00 PM CT.


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